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The Late Ch'ing Courtship of the Chinese in Southeast Asia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2011

Michael R. Godley
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At the time of the Revolution of 1911, as many as ten million Chinese lived abroad. The great majority were poor coolies but a minority had already moved into the business pursuits for which they are well known today. Within this group, particularly in Southeast Asia, could be found a stratum of very wealthy merchants. Because few individuals viewed their expatriation as permanent but rather sought to identify with the homeland and its culture, there had been considerable interest in the events of the late Ch'ing period. It is widely assumed that the multitude actively opposed the Manchu regime and gave its support to the reform and revolutionary movements encouraged by K'ang Yu-wei and Sun Yat-sen. This traditional conclusion is, however, unfounded. Although most overseas Chinese had lost faith in Manchu leadership by 1909, only a small percentage took political action. In fact there was a time, forgotten by some historians, when prosperous merchants abroad wanted closer relations with the Ch'ing dynasty.

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Articles
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The Journal of Asian Studies , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , February 1975 , pp. 361 - 385
Copyright
Copyright © The Association for Asian Studies, Inc. 1975

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References

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5 IWSM, TC 55:21b.

6 The precise circumstances surrounding the appointment arc obscure but it is said that Hoo (called “Whampoa”) possessed a special uniform and a sword awarded by the Russians. See Siang, Song Ong, One Hundred Years History of the Chinese in Singapore (Singapore, 1967), 56.Google Scholar

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23 WCSL, KH 83:33b–37 and CCHWHTK, vol. I, 10801–3.

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25 WCSL, KH 84:10–11 and 28b–30b.

26 See the narrative in Wickberg, 224–33.

27 See Hummel, Arthur W., ed., Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period (Reprint: Taipei, 1970),350–51. WCSL, KH 83:330–37 and 84: 28b–30b.Google Scholar

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32 Ta-Ch'ing li-eh'ao shih-lu (veritable records of successive reigns of the Ch'ing dynasty; Tokyo, 1937–38), hereafter cited as Shih-lu, KH 327:1b.Google Scholar

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34 Lat Pau, 12 August 1889 makes reference to flood relief.

35 Penang Sin Poe, 8 May 1889.

36 Lat Pau, 17 July 1894.

37 Yao, Wong, 52 or Hsin-chia-po ch–a-yang hui-fown pai-nien chi-nien k‘n (“Char Yong Association 100th Anniversary Celebration;” Singapore), 9.Google Scholar

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40 Straits Times, 7 and 8 April 1896.

41 Lat Pau, 3 June 1890.

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45 CWNKCC, Draft Telegrams, 27:13 and yü-chai ts'tin-hao (collected papers of Shcng Hsuan-huai; Taipei, 1963), hereafter cited as YCTK, 25:40–5 and 7. See also Li Kuo-ch'i Chnng-kuo tsao-ch't t'ieh-lu ching-ying (the early management of China's railroads; Taipei, 1961), 137–43.Google Scholar

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47 YCTK, 33:5b–6 and Lat Pan, 26 and 27 July 1898.

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51 Lat Pan, 26 April 1900.

52 Straits Times, 19 August and Lat Pan, 22 August 1901.

53 Penang Sin Poe, 22 November 1902.

54 Shih-lu, KH 512:17b and 516:4b–5b; THHL, 178:11b

55 Las Pau, II August and Penang Sin Poe, II August and 31 October 1903.

56 Shih-ln, KH 527:1b.

57 THHL, 189:8b; Shih-lu, KH 535:6b; Lat Pau, 19 November 1904 and Penang Sin Poe, 29 October and 22 November 1904.

58 Shih-lu, KH 535:6b and 541:4. Penang Sin Poe, 16 December 1904.

59 THHL, 190:1–2 and Shih-lu, KH 517:66–7. For the full contents of Chang's twelve part memorial, see either Lai Pan or Penang Sin Poe. December 1905 to February 1906. The document is also summarized in “The Mandarin-Capitalists from Nanyang.”

60 Ibid, and in particular, Penang Sin Poe. 22 ind 23 Dccemrxr 1905.

61 Lim, Boon Keng “The Role of the Babas in the Development of China,” Straits Chinese Maga-zine, vol. 8 (1904), 94–100.Google ScholarFor an outline of his career, see Boorman, , ed., Biographical Dictionary. vol. 2, 386–87.Google Scholar

62 Straits Chinese Magazine, vol. 2 (1898), 104. Liu (known as Lew Yuk Lin) was a real favorite of (he British and of great assistance to Chang Pi-shih. Originally brought out to help Huang, he was an unmistakable progressive educated at America's Andover Academy with a useful five years at the New York City consulate. Because Chang spent as much time in China as in Nanyang, Liu frequently functioned as the ranking Ch'ing official in Southeast Asia until his transfer to London at the end of the century.

63 Wong Yao, 57. Penang Sin Poe, 1 and 4 July and 20 December 1904.

64 Shih-lu, KH 536:6; CCHWHTK, vol. 2, 8717; Penang Sin Poe, 16 December 1904.

65 THHL, 153:13b–15, 156:4, 184:2.CCHWHTK, vol. 4, 11398.

66 THHL, 178:11 and 184:2b.

67 Penang Sin Poe, 23 December 1905 or Lat Pau, 14 February 1906.

68 Penang Sin Poe, 28 and 29 December 1905.

69 THHL, 190:1b

70 The fact that Chang was willing to finance the bureau himself may well have played a part in the decision. See THHL, 189:8b and Shih-lu, KH 535:6b.

71 Penang Sin Poe, 22 December 1903 and 28 March 1905. Hsieh Pin, Ckung-kuo t'ieh-tao shih (history of Chinese railways; Shanghai, 1929), 464; Feuerwerker, 235; Shang-wu kuan-pao (commercial gazette; Peking, 1907–1908), no. 5 (1907), 9b–10; and Ch'ao-choti chih: chiao-t'ung chih (Chaochow gazate–er: essay on communications), 52b.

72 See, for example, Penang Sin Poe, II and 18 March and 16 December 1905 and the Lat Pau, 3 March 1905.

73 Penang Sin Poe, 20 March 1905.

74 See Feuerwerker, 70–71.

75 THHL, I94:I2b–I3b.

76 The address was preserved in Penang Sin Poe, 6 December 1905.

77 See Song Ong Siang, 387 and lat Pau, 8 and 13 December 1905.

78 Hsin-chia-po Chung-hua tsung shang-hui hsin ta-hsia lo ch'eng chi-nien k'an (“Souvenir of the Opening of the Newly Completed Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce Building;” Singapore, 1964), 105–210. Events can be followed more closely in the December issues of Lat Pau as well as in April and 3 August 1906.

79 Lat Pau, 3 August and Penang Sin Poe, 20 July 1906. For the complete document consult Shang-wu kuan-pao, no. 1 (1907), 9.

80 Shang-wu kuan-pao, no. 14 (1907), 5.

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87 Ibid, 152; Penang Sin Poe, 14 December 1907; and Straits Timer, 8 October and 9 Decernber 1907.

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93 Chung-kuo chin-tai huo-pi shih tzu-liao (ma-tcrials on the history of modern Chinese currency: Peking, 1964), vol. 2, 1037. Penang Sin Poe, 26 May and 21 September 1903 and 21 January 1904; Lat Pan, 23 and 29 December 1903 and 29 February 1904.Google Scholar

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96 Straits Times, 29 May, 26 June, 10 July and 1 October 1908 as well as Williams, 56.

97 Straits Times, 9 June, 30 July, 6 august 1908 anil 15 December 1909.

98 Fei-li-pin Chung-hua shang-hui, 156 and Hsin-chia-po Chung-hua Isung thang-hui, 152–54. See also Straits Times, 21 and 28 May 1907, 14 and 17 July 1908.

99 Shang-wu kuan-pao, no. 13 (1907), 17b–20b; no. 20 (1907), 16b-20; and no. 30 (1907), 17b–20b.Google Scholar

100 Hsin-chia-po Chnng-hua tsung shang-hui, 151–53 and Lat Pau, 1 November 1907.

101 Penang Sin Poe, 33 March, 27 June 1914 and 1 May 1915. Chang consequently earned a seat in the Legislative Assembly (Li-fa hui) and inclusion in the State Council (Ts'an-cheng yuan).

102 Tou-teng yi-yuan and wu~tcng yi-yuan respectively. See CCHWHTK, vol. 4, 11405.

103 A general schedule for imperial rewards follows: 20,000,000 yuan—;first class viscount (yi-teng tzu-chüeh); 18,000,000 yuan—second class viscount; 16,000,000 yuan—third class viscount; 14,000,000 yuan—first class baron (yi-tcng nan-chiieh); 12,000,000 yuan—second class baron; and 10,000,000 yuan—third class baron; 7,000,000 yuan—third rank official (son p'in ch'ing); 5,000,000—fourth rank official; and 3,000,000 yuan—fifth rank official. Sec CCHWHTK, vol. 4. 11406.

104 Cited in Straits Times, 4 June 1907.

105 Shang-wu kttan-pao, no. 32 (1908), 4; Straits Chinese Magazine, vol. 11 (1907), 161–64; Lat Pau, 3, 5, 10, 11 December 1907.

106 Ibid, but see also Shih-lu. KH 588:9b; THHL, 215:7 and Lat Pau, 6 and 27 April 1908. Yang's report can be located in THHL, 2i4:I7–I8b or WCSL, KH 210:10–14.

107 Straits Times, 1 May 1908; Shih-lu, KH 588:14b.

108 Penang Sin Poe, 5 May 1908; THHL, 215:7; Shih-lu, KH 588:9b.

109 Williams, 155–57; Lat Pau, 4 January and 11 July 1908.

110 Williams, 158.

111 “Hu Han-min chiang-shu nan-yang hua-ch'iao tsan-chia kc-ming chih ching kuo,” (Hu Han-min's speech on the participation of the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia in the Revolution) in Tzu-yu, Feng, Ke-ming yi-shih (historical sketches of the revolution; Taipei, 1965), 233–36.Google Scholar

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113 Straits Times, 14, 21 and 28 October 1907.

114 Wang Gungwu concluded after a prolonged study of Sun and bis agents in the Straits Settlements that less than four million dollars was raised. See “Chinese Reformists and Revolutionaries.”

115 Penang Sin Poe, 22, 26, 27 and 30 April 1912. Hsin-chia-po Chung-hua tsung shang-hui, 54.

116 Penang Sin Poe, 15 July 1907; THHL, 216: 14b–15; Shih-lu, HT, 49:8; Shang-wu kuan-pao, no. 14 (1907), 6; and CCHWHTK, vol. 4, 11417.

117 The group, supported by Chinese merchants in America, Australia and Southeast Asia, called itself the United Overseas Chinese Development Company (Lien-ho wai-yang hua-ch‘iao ch‘ung-she chen Hua kung-ssu). It hoped to raise 3,000,000 dollars overseas as the beginning of a scheme to open mines, plantations, steamship lines, banks and railroads. See Penang Sin Poe, 1 August 1908.

118 Lat Pau, 2 October 1907.

119 Fincher, John, “Political Provincialism and the National Revolution” in Mary Wright, ed., China in Revolution: the First Phase, 1900–1913 (New Haven, 1968), 198–203.Google Scholar

120 Penang Sin Poe, 16 April, 23 November, 4 and 18 December 1906, and 25 and 26 July 1907; Lat Pau, 9 April 1906 and 26 fuly 1907; Straits Times, 6 April 1906 and 26 July 1907. For Foo's biography, consult “The Mandarin-Capitalists from Nanyang.”

122 Chiao hang tsung Itung-ssu and Ch‘ao feng kung-ssu respectively. For details and the appropriate memorials, see Shih-lu, KH 588:8b, 9b; Cheng-chih kuan-pao, no. 297 (1908), 7–14; THHL, 2i8:i4–i6b. See also the accounis in Penang Sin Poe, 5 and 26 May and 19 and 22 September and 3 October 1908.

123 Lat Pau, 5 April 1908; Penang Sin Poe, 4 May 1909.

124 Cheng-chih kuan-pao, no. 297 (1909), 14 and Li En-han, 363.